Malta – Abortion: Your discomfort, her pain | Open letter to Prime Minister Abela

'You must surely realise that our country is at a crossroads. It can either go down the path of protecting women, or it can cave in to conservatives and continue to criminalise women for taking decisions that are in their best interest'

Isabel Stabile
11 June 2023

Dear Honourable Prime Minister Abela,
As you well know, in 2021, then MP Marlene Farrugia tabled a Bill calling for the decriminalisation of abortion, something that Voice for Choice has been calling for since 2019. You chose to scuttle this for political reasons.

Then, in 2022, a Bill was filed to allow abortion care in very limited and extreme circumstances. I saluted you then on behalf of every woman in Malta, for proposing this legal amendment because I believed this would make Malta a little safer for those who can get pregnant. Perhaps I was mistaken, because progress on Bill 28 now seems to have stalled.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/comment/blogs/123366/abortion_your_discomfort_her_pain__open_letter_to_prime_minister_abela

11.06.2023

abortion law reform

decriminalisation of abortion

Isabelle Stabile

Marlene Farrugia

Voice for Choice

Malta – Pro-choice coalition warns against changes to abortion Bill that risk creating barriers to treatment

Voice for Choice says Bill 28 that decriminalises abortion if a woman’s life or health is at risk should pass as is, warning that any other legal obligations placed on doctors will be of no clinical benefit to the patient

16 January 2023
by Kurt Sansone

Suggested changes to the Bill decriminalising abortion if a woman’s life or health is in danger risk putting up barriers to treatment, a pro-choice coalition has warned.

Voice for Choice said it was concerned over the changes being suggested to Bill 28 by the government in the face of public backlash.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120758/prochoice_coalition_warns_over_changes_to_abortion_bill_that_risk_creating_barriers_to_treatment#.Y8XqanbMKrQ

Is Europe next? Concerns over abortion rights rise after Supreme Court overturns Roe

“The fact it’s become a talking point is a massive step forward. Whatever anyone’s views are on abortion, it’s not helpful if we can’t talk about it,” one abortion rights opponent said.

Aug. 7, 2022
By Patrick Smith

LONDON — Abortion rights opponents have long been stuck on the fringes of politics in much of Western Europe. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has many in the movement hoping that is about to change.

That abortion was thrust into the headlines and onto the agenda has been a big step forward, said Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a co-director of March for Life U.K., an annual event in September in London.

Continued: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/europe-concerns-abortion-rights-rise-supreme-court-overturns-roe-rcna38651

Malta – President Vella: I would rather resign than sign abortion bill

George Vella reiterates that he will never sign a bill that 'authorises murder'

May 17, 2021
Jessica Arena

President George Vella has reaffirmed his stance in strong opposition to abortion, repeating that he would rather resign than sign a bill concerning abortion.

“I will never sign a bill that involves the authorisation of murder,” Vella said in comments to Net News on Monday, stating that his position on the matter has always been clear.

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/president-vella-i-would-rather-resign-than-sign-abortion-bill.872527

17.05.2021

Marie Louise Coleiro Preca

COVID-19 created double barrier for Maltese women’s access to abortion

The shutdown from COVID-19 in Malta laid bare the barriers for women to have access to abortion services

23 July 2020
by Matthew Vella

The shutdown from COVID-19 in Malta laid bare the barriers for women to have access to abortion services, with more people reaching out to activists and charities and seeking medical abortion pills online.

Pro-choice activist Liza Caruana-Finkel, an independent researcher, said COVID-19 had highlighted the problems of a system in which pregnant people in Malta secretly travel for abortions abroad or secretly order abortion pills online.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/103666/covid19_created_double_barrier_for_maltese_womens_access_to_abortion#.XxmmGud7lPY

23.07.2020

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‘Like Ireland on steroids’: Malta’s abortion taboo leaves women in despair

'Like Ireland on steroids': Malta's abortion taboo leaves women in despair
Border closures have trapped women seeking safe terminations and exposed the plight of those who cannot afford to travel

Megan Clement and Bertrand Borg in Valetta
Thu 11 Jun 2020

The nurse who told Marija she was still pregnant thought she was giving her patient good news. She chided Marija, who was seven weeks along, for not starting her vitamins sooner and sent her home.

But Marija (not her real name) was devastated. Six days earlier, she had tried to terminate the pregnancy with abortion pills she ordered online. But she had experienced terrible morning sickness throughout her pregnancy, and had thrown up after taking the first of the two pills. She was worried the medication had not had time to work before she vomited. After taking the second pill and bleeding for a few days, she went to the hospital to find out if she had miscarried.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/11/like-ireland-on-steroids-maltas-abortion-taboo-leaves-women-in-despair

Times Are Changing: Malta’s First Ever Pro-Choice Movement To Launch This Weekend

Times Are Changing: Malta’s First Ever Pro-Choice Movement To Launch This Weekend
'Women seeking abortions continue to live in fear, stigma and shame in our society'

Tim Diacono
Mar 4, 2019

It would have been unthinkable in the past, but Malta’s first ever pro-choice movement is set to launch this weekend to campaign for the legalisation of abortion.

Details are still scant at this stage, but the movement is expected to include the Women’s Rights Foundation and Moviment Graffitti, both of whom have been sharing the upcoming launch on social media.

Continued: https://lovinmalta.com/news/times-are-changing-maltas-first-ever-pro-choice-movement-to-launch-this-weekend

04.03.2019

Women's Rights Foundation

If Northern Irish women can now have an abortion in England, why not here?

If Northern Irish women can now have an abortion in England, why not here?
A policy offering free terminations for those who can travel is a first step. Now we need to change the law for those who can’t
Pro-choice rally in Northern Ireland

Goretti Horgan
Tuesday 22 August 2017

Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has declined to issue new guidance on abortion to doctors and other health professionals because “there has been no change to the law on abortion”. This is despite the fact that the situation clearly has changed since women from the region can now access free, NHS abortions in England.

This stubborn refusal to recognise the reality of women’s reproductive healthcare needs is concerning because it ignores the fact that, at present, GPs in Northern Ireland are not permitted to purchase procedures outside Northern Ireland “that would be illegal in Northern Ireland”. This prohibition clearly needs to be updated to take account of the new situation.

Continued at source: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/22/women-northern-ireland-abortion-reproductive-rights-westminster-change-law